Vending-machine.



C24/MMV@ A. H. BOWMAN.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.20. |912.

l 38,975. Patented May 4, 1915.

E NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, Dy C,

.ALTON I-I. BOWMAN, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING-IVIACHINE.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented May d, 1915.

Application le August 20, 1912. Serial No. 715,998.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALToN H. BowMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Allentown, county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in vending machines of the type in which the coin releases the tray and allows the article vended to be projected from the machine.

One object of my invention is to construct a vending machine of this type so that the coin will push the retaining means out of the path of the tray, enabling the tray to be forced in to its full extent to receive the article vended; the tray being forced out again by the action of a spring, or its equiva lent; the retaining means being re-set after the tray has been projected.

A further object of the invention is to construct the casing of the vending machine so that it can be made very narrow in order to locate it on the posts or panels of a passenger car between the windows, `as the invention is particularly adapted for use on trolley cars scheduled for long trips and a passenger, by placing a coin of the proper denomination in the slot, will receive in exchange chocolate, chewing gum, or other commodities.

In the accompanying drawings :--Figure l, is a perspective view showing my im# proved vending machine located between the windows of a trolley car; Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view on the line 2 2, Fig. 7 Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4 -4, Fig. 2; Fig.V

5, is a detached perspective view of the partition with the tray; Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the trigger which retains the tray in the projected position; and'V Fig. 7, is a vertical sectional view drawn to a reduced scale showing the parts in position.

Referring to the drawings, A is the casing made in a single casting and narrow so as to fit a panel between the windows of a assenger or trolley car, as illustrated in *ig 1. At the upper end of the casing is a forked projection a, which engages a headed screw b on the framework B of the car. At the other end of the casing is a projection c having a slot through which extends a staple o on the post B and a lock b2 may be placed in position to firmly lock the casing to the car body. Other means of fastening, however, may be employed, without departing from the essential features of the invention.

c 1s the slot in the casing through which a coin 1s inserted.

c is the coin-way through which the coin passes to the slot al in the partition D.

A is the slideway for the chocolate, chewlng gum, etc. This slideway is directly above the platform e of a tray E. The tray is stepped so as to form a delivery section c.

The commodity to be vended normally rests on the platform c, but when the tray is forced 1n after the coin is inserted in the slot, the commodity falls onto the portion e and the shoulder c2 pushes it out of the casing when the tray is forced out by its spring. In the inner surface of each side wall of the casing is a groove a2 into which extend ribs cZ on the edge of the partition D. This partition is of the same depth as the casing, so that when the casing is secured in position the partition is held against movement. Depending from the partition D are lugs Z2 and secured to these lugs are plates f, f which regulate the width of the passage and, consequently, prevent the passage of coins or slugs of a greater width than that determined upon when making the vending machine. One of these plates f is iianged; the other plate 7 being V-shaped.

While this construction holds the coin properly in position; when the coin is released there is nothing to interfere with its dropping into the receptacle below the partition.

I is a trigger made` of wire, in the present instance, as shown in Fig. 6.

c', c" are the pivot sections of the trigger adapted to bearings in the iianges f2 of the plate 7 and between the twoy pivots is a V- shaped extension 2 which extends on each side of the V-shaped plate f and atthe base of this V-shaped projection is a lateral extension 3 forming a seat for the coin when it passes into the slot d. This extension projects across the space between the two plates f, f and retains the coin in the slot until it is moved out of the path of the coin, when the tray is forced in.

a is a long arm of the lever, having at its outer end a vertical portion a which extends through a slot Z3 in the partition D, and at the upper end of this' vertical section is a transverse section .a2 having a short vertical projection as which extends into the pathof the tray E, as illustrated in Figs. l and 5,

so that while the trigger is in the position illustrated, it is impossible to force the trayl intothe casing, but as soon as `the outer end of the arm n is raised by the coin moving the portion 2 laterally, then the tray is in position to be forced into the casing and as the` tray is pushed in the horizontal portion c2 of the trigger :I travels up onthe inclined or cam surface g of the tray E', vas illustrated -in Fig. 5, raising the arma of the trigger trigger is heldV in its raised position -until I On the underside of the the trayk completes its full inward movement and when the tray is proJected it again assuines its normal position ready to receive and support another coin. I

tray Eis a luge3, which extends through a slot d4 in the partition D. Attached to this lug is a plate m having a depending portion to which is attached one end of a coiled return spring M.

The other end is attached to a post m de` pending from the partition D; v f

In order to prevent the return of the tray before it has completed its. full movement into the casing, I provide a spring detent y' pawl s, which is pivoted to a projection on the plate m. This pawl engages teeth s on the underside of the partition D. There is a space at each end of the row of teeth, as illustrated in Fig. 4l, to allow the pawl to swing on its pivot, so that when the tray is pushed in the pawl will hold Vthe tray from moving outward under pressure of its spring M, the pawl ratcheting onthe-teeth until the tray has been moved into the cas'- ing to its full extent, whentlie end of the pawl will enter'rthe deep recess and will swing on its pivot, due to the pressure of its own spring, to a position which will allow the main spring to force the tray out of the casing without interference of the pawl. This construction insures the full movement of the'tray.

In the front of thecasing directlyabove the slot p for the tray is a vertical slot p suitably glazed so that the articles vended are visible. y Y

I preferably locate a magnet V in the path of the coin, as illustrated in Fig. 7, to prevent the passage of any ironslugs into the casing, as the magnet will attract and will yet practical and simple,pvending machine,

" elongated in shape andso narrow as to be placed between the windows of a car; the machine correctly and'quickly feeding small articles, such as chocolate, chewing gum,

` etc., Vto the tray upon the insertion in the A slot of the proper coin.

. I he coin is inserted in the slot c in the casing and passes the magnet, afterward i traveling in a circuitous path, yas shownin turning the trigger on its pivot so as to liftv the end n3 of the trigger clear of the tray;

the coin findingits seat on the portion 3 of the trigger. rlhe parts are then in position for the tray to be forced in and a series of wrapped chocolates, for instance, are placed one upon another inthe guide'A; the lower one resting directly'upon the platform e of the tray. As the tray is pushed in the beveled or cam surface g of the tray passes under the portion n2 of the trigger and turns the trigger on its'pivot, withdrawing the portiony 3 from under the coin; allowing the coin to drop into the receptacle under the partition and, after the tray is pushed into the casing to its fullextent, it is released from the control of the pawl; its spring forcing it out.v It the meantime the edge of the platform is passed, allowing the cake of chocolate to drop upon the portion e in front of the wall e2; said cake ofvchocolate being forcedy out of the casing with the tray. The platform e closes the opening p in the casing.V i

I/VliilefI have illustrated my invention as applied to a single narrow casing, itwill be understood that it may be applied to one of ygreater width where other commodities Vare to be vended or wherea series of vending elements are contained in onecasing.

DI claimz- V l. The combination a vending machine, of a casing; a transverse partition therein separating the. compartment holding the commodity from that Vfor the reception of the coins; a sliding ytray mounted onfthe partition and less in width than thecasing and having a platform supporting the coinmodity, 'thepartition yhaving a coin. slot l0- ioo V'iois iio cated between one edge of the tray and the casing; a trigger pivotally mountedclose to the coin slot and having one arm with a lateral projection at the lower' end and another arm extending across the casing and through the partition, said arm having a horizontal portion; a cam onth'e tray arranged toV pass under the horizontalportion of the last Vmentioned arm of thetrigger after a coin is located in the slot, so as to release the coin when the tray is pushed into iff ing a depending lug adapted to the slot in A the partition; a spring secured to the lug and to the partition to return the tray to its normal position after it is orced into the casing; a wire bent in the form of a trigger pivotally mounted on the underside of the partition; said partition having a coin slot therein; one arm of the wire trigger being bent to extend into the coin slot; the other arm of the trigger being bent to engage the sliding tray so that when the coin passes ing an opening at the opposite side at a point back of the tray when it is projected; plates secured to the extensions of the partition, forming a continuation of the coin slot; a trigger pivotally mounted under the partition and having a V-shaped arm provided with a projection at its lower end arranged to retain the coin in the slot, the trigger having another arm projecting through the opening in the partition having a right angled extension projecting over a portion of the tray when the tray is pushed in, said portion of the tray having an arm for engaging the last mentioned arm of the trigger so as to lift it and release the coin from the control of the other arm. v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALTON H. BOWMAN. Vitnesses:

WM. E. SHUPE, WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

